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Working Holiday Visas

The working holiday system is a program that allows individuals to enter a country primarily for holiday purposes, while also permitting them to engage in employment to help cover their travel and lodging expenses. This system is based on bilateral agreements between countries and regions. As of June 3, 2024, Japan has concluded working holiday visa agreements with the following 30 countries and regions:

• Australia
• New Zealand
• Canada
• Republic of Korea
• France
• Germany
• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Denmark
• Taiwan
• Hong Kong
• Norway
• Portugal
• Poland
• Slovakia
• Austria
• Hungary
• Spain
• Argentina
• Chile
• Iceland
• Czech Republic
• Lithuania
• Sweden
• Estonia
• Netherlands
• Uruguay
• Finland
• Latvia
• Luxembourg

From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (current as of June 3, 2024)

Obtaining a Working Holiday Visa and Status of Residence for Japan

Generally speaking, Japanese working holiday visas are issued to nationals or residents of other countries/regions who meet the following conditions (specific conditions vary depending on the country/region). When staying in Japan on a working holiday visa, the visa-holder’s status of residence* will be “Designated Activities.”

• The person must be a national or resident of a partner country/region and must reside in that country/region.
• The person must be intending primarily to spend holiday in Japan for a specific length of time.
• The person must be between 18 and 30 years of age at the time that they apply for the visa (for Australia, Canada, and the Republic of Korea, the applicant should be between 18 and 25 years of age, but persons up to 30 years of age may apply when permitted by relevant government authorities. In the case of Iceland, the applicant must be between 18 and 26 years of age.)
• The person must not be accompanied by dependents or children.
• The person must possess a valid passport and a return travel ticket (or adequate funds with which to purchase such a ticket).
• The person must have adequate funds for living expenses during the initial period of their stay in Japan.
• The person must be in good health.
• The person must never have been issued a Japanese working holiday visa in the past.

From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website

*The difference between a “visa” and a “status of residence”:

A “visa” is what is affixed to a passport in advance by a Japanese overseas diplomatic office for the purposes of entering Japan. It is required for the passport-bearer to be allowed to enter the country. The “status of residence” is the status of a foreign national while staying in Japan, after entering the country. It defines the range of activities that the person can engage in while in Japan.

Foreign nationals residing in Japan are granted permission to enter the country at ports of entry based on their visa, and they are permitted to stay based on the status of residence that is granted at that time.

A foreign national who wishes to acquire a Japanese working holiday visa must submit their application to the nearest Embassy or Consulate-General of Japan in their country/region.